Tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and orzo in a luscious creamy sauce. A satisfying Italian-inspired one-pan meal.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
08 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
09 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Orzo & Sauce
10 - 1 cup orzo pasta
11 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 1 cup heavy cream
13 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Garnish
15 - Fresh basil leaves, for serving
16 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
# How-To Steps:
01 - Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs, ensuring even coating on all sides.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken and sauté for 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute to release their flavors.
05 - Add orzo pasta to the skillet and stir well to coat with oil and aromatics, approximately 1 minute.
06 - Pour in chicken broth and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the skillet bottom. Reduce heat to medium-low.
07 - Add heavy cream and return cooked chicken to the skillet. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until orzo is tender and sauce thickens.
08 - Stir in Parmesan cheese and spinach. Cook for 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts and cheese melts completely. If sauce is too thick, add chicken broth or water as needed.
09 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese.
